USA > Michigan > Ingham County > Lansing > Past and present of the city of Lansing and Ingham county, Michigan > Part 73
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leased land and sunk oil wells. They pro- duced the first flowing well in Canada. He interested Montreal capitalists, secured a loan of $15,000 to develop the business. No market could be found at that time for the crude oil. Four thousand barrels were sold. for ten cents per barrel. The business was finally abandoned with considerably financial loss. November 7, 1865, Mr. Barnes was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Vernon of George, a lady of culture and refine- ment, an ideal home keeper and mother: Ida L., a sweet faced child, was born Sep- tember 12, 1868, for seventeen years she was the light and joy of the home, when her young life so full of hope and promise went out, she died March 21, 1887. Her sainted mother preceded her to the better land, hav- ing died December 2, 1877. The breaking up of the home was a sad blow to Mr. Barnes, but business claimed his attention, and it was well it did. Mr. Barnes was again married, to Mrs. James Sherman, who has since shared with him the for- tunes of life. In 1866, the year following the Civil War, when there was a great re- arrangement in all departments of business, Mr. Barnes came to Mason, he at once plunged into business. He purchased a lot and built a substantial warehouse, where now stands the cold storage plant. He handled building material and had the field practically to himself. He also purchased his present comfortable residence and later add- ed many needed improvements. He con- tinued in the business for about twenty-five years, engaging also in the manufacturing of staves, both enterprises proved profitable investments. Mr. Barnes is what might be termed a conservative Republican.
Mr. Barnes has served the city as Treasurer in a most acceptable manner. He united with the I. O. O. F. in 1846 in Mon- treal, after becoming a resident in Mason
was transferred to Mason Lodge. Mr. Barnes is an esteemed member of the Pres- byterian Church, his membership reaching back nearly 35 years. He has served the so- ciety officially as Trustee and otherwise.
Sincerity, conservatism and honesty are three prominent traits that have character- ized his dealings with his fellows. Mr. Barnes may justly be termed a "much traveled man." He has been around the world, sailed over the north and south At- lantic, and Pacific and Indian oceans from 50 degrees north latitude to 60 degrees south latitude.
A man of wide experience and many virtues.
J. J. BAIRD.
Taking up the life history of this man who has done so much for Lansing, we pre- sent the records of one who has risen from a position of obscurity to one of wealth and affluence enjoyed by few men of this State. A native of the Buckeye State, J. J. Baird was born in the year of 1852, and is the son of James and Mary Ann Baird, who were natives of New York.
The elder Baird was a hotel keeper and came to Michigan in 1854, settling in Char- lotte, where he erected and conducted what is known as the "Baird House" until his death. The early boyhood of Mr. Baird was spent in this locality, and here he re- ceived his early education. Having a liking for the law, he began the study under Mr. Isaac Hickock, an attorney of prominence, of Charlotte. He was eventually admitted to the bar, and there began his practice, re- maining for a few years. In 1880 be be- came a citizen of Lansing, forming a part- nership with Mr. Dart, under the firm name of "Dart and Baird," which was continued with a moderate degree of success, until the
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FRANK C. MINAR CAPT. LYMAN MINAR Born February 19, 1822
Born October 18, 1855
MRS. JULIA FRESHOUR Born March 31, 1882 DOROTHY LYDIA FRESHOUR Born December 14, 1904
MRS. LYMAN MINAR
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formation of the firm of Cahill, Ostrander & Baird. He continued his association with these gentlemen for a short time, when his manufacturing interests, in which he was identified with Mr. O. F. Barnes, began to assume such proportions that he found it necessary to discontinue the practice of law.
In 1877 Mr. Baird was united in marriage to Miss Irene Combs, of Fostoria, Ohio, and unto this union have been born three chil- dren: Mrs. Charles Bradford, Mrs. Dr. Joseph Foster, and Sue.
Probably no man of his time has exerted a greater influence towards the development and growth of Lansing's commercial, manu- facturing and real estate interests than our subject, as he enjoys a reputation of being the largest individual real estate owner in the city, paying more real estate taxes than any one individual of his locality, owning the Baird Opera House, the Hotel Butler and the Hotel Hudson buildings, together with other valuable realty holdings.
The Business Men's Association of Lan- sing, an organization perfected for the pur- pose of promotion and the locating of manu- facturing concerns, has been an important factor in the development of Lansing's manufacturing interests. To the perfection of this organization, Mr. Baird has given a great deal of his valuable time and as its ef- ficient president, this organization has been able to enjoy the results of his influence and energy, and it has been acceded beyond a question of doubt that Lansing owes the lo- cation of many important enterprises within its limits to Mr. Baird's efforts. Careful and conservative in the exercise of his opin- ions, Lansing has enjoyed a steady and healthy growth.
Viewing the personal history of J. J. Baird, it is safe to say, that he is in every sense of the word a self-made man. Start- ing out in life for himself at an early age,
as an office boy, at a dollar and a half a week, he has steadily advanced to the posi- tion of prominence in the community which he now holds. A Democrat in his political views, he has taken an active interest in local politics, and efficiently represented his ward as Alderman for twelve years. He is also an Elk and a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has lived a life in harmony with its bene- ficent teachings. The success that he today enjoys is the result of his own well-directed efforts. Numerous other enterprises of im- portance owe their growth and development to his helpful influence and association, and, while advancing his own interests, he has materially contributed to Ingham county's prosperity, and no man within its borders enjoys a greater degree of confidence than J. J. Baird.
CAPT. LYMAN MINAR.
Captain Lyman Minar of Vevay township was the son of a farmer. He was born near Schenectady, N. Y., as were his parents be- fore him. They lived, spent their lives, died and were buried in the Empire State. John and Catherine (Colon) Minar were the par- ents of nine children, six boys and three girls. Lyman, who was born February 19, 1822, so far as known, is the only living descendant. He began life for himself, when only thirteen years of age, as a sailor boy on the lakes. It is a remarkable fact that six of the family began life as sailors in the employ of the same man. Our subject re- mained with his employer nineteen years and at the age of nineteen years was captain of his vessel. He sailed as captain on the lakes for forty-two years, a record seldom dupli- cated. A brother, however, sailed the same number of years.
February 22, 1843, Lyman Minar mar- ried Austress Jenkins of Ellisburg, N. Y.,
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and eight children were born to them, four of whom are living, all highly respected, in- telligent, enterprising citizens: Capt. Nor- man L. J., born September 14, 1847, farmer and sailor; Agnes O., born November 27, 1850, wife of Edward L. Topliff, residing in Toledo, Ohio; Captain George A., farmer and sailor, born November 26, 1852, and Frank C., born October 18, 1855, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume.
Mrs. Minar departed from this life March 20, 1901. For fifty-eight years, hand in hand, they walked the path of life. To- gether they shared the joys and sorrows of the passing years. She has gone, but the in- fluence of her life lingers to cheer and com- fort him who in the closing years of an active life is going down the decline toward the setting of the sun, bearing with him a good hope of a happy meeting in the bright and beautiful beyond. Fortunate indeed is the parent, who, in the decreptitude of old age, has the assurance that the filial love of his children will look to it that no wish or desire will go ungratified.
Captain Minar has for many years been identified with the fraternal order of Ma- sons.
J. L. TORREY.
The Village of Leslie, Ingham county, can boast among her citizens a goodly number of men whose activity, ability and broad ex- perience make them of value to the com- munity and bring to them the respect of their fellow citizens and perhaps there is none more deservedly popular and influential than J. L. Torrey, who was born in the Empire State in Livingston county, in April, 1831. He was the son of Miles and Laura Torrey. The father was born in Massachusetts and came to New York where he worked at
farming and the trade of a blacksmith. He came to Michigan in the spring of 1845 and settled in Washtenaw county, where he lived for one year and then came to Jackson coun- ty, where he lived until his death one and . one-half years later. Our subject was the third of five children. The wife and mother of this family died in 1861.
Upon reaching the years of his majority J. L. Torrey came to Michigan and settled on a farm in Leslie township and in connec- tion with the farm work helped to run a saw mill for a time, then came to Leslie, where he operated a saw mill for several years. After this for eight or ten years our subject was engaged in the mercantile business, having charge of a gen- eral store which he later sold to Mr. Black- more. For twenty years after this Mr. Torrey ran a lumber yard in the village of Leslie, this being the only place of its kind in the town. This place of business he later sold to Mr. Lamb and now lives in retire- ment enjoying the fruits of his early toil.
J. L. Torrey was united in marriage Feb .. ruary 28, 1856, to Miss Harriett M., daugh- ter of S. O. Russell, one of the earliest set- tlers of Leslie, and to this couple have been born two sons: Linford G., a resident of Leslie, born December 16, 1864, and Clayton, born August 21, 1873, living in Dowagiac.
Fraternally, Mr. Torrey is connected with the Masonic order at Leslie. He is a sup- porter of the Republican party and has served as Village Treasurer for two terms and as Town Clerk and has always taken a lively interest in local affairs. When our subject arrived in this county there was only one horse team in the township and woods covered a great deal of the land.
Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Torrey are living in retirement from the activities of life in their pleasant home in Leslie and are highly es- teemed by their many friends. Mr. Torrey
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is a genial, whole-souled man, who is well informed on the events of the day and who has many friends in all classes of society.
ALFRED BEAMER.
Mr. Beamer is a resident of Lansing of forty years standing, one of its pioneers in the railroad, express and telephone busi- ness and has always been a large factor in all its public enterprises and movements. He was born in Ontario, Canada, in 1841, being the son of George and Rebecca Beamer. The father of our subject was a Canadian farmer, a native of St. Catherine, removing to Mich- igan and settling in Lansing in 1870. There he lived until his death.
Alfred Beamer passed his boyhood days in Canada, receiving his early education in the Dominion schools as well as his first ex- perience as a telegraph operator in the ser- vice of the Great Western Railway.
He came to Michigan in 1860, locating at Lowell as railroad agent and operator for the Detroit and Milwaukee R. R. Coming to Lansing in 1864, he continued that line of work in connection with the railroad and express business. When he first became a resident of the place, he and Sam Milmore transacted all the railroad business with the utmost ease. In those days one mixed train ran between Lansing and Owosso, consti- tuting what was known as the Ram's Horn Line and the only railroad to Lansing.
Mr. Beamer continued to be identified with the telegraph business from 1860 until 1878, when he gave up the telegraph work, but continued, however, as a representative of the National and American Express Com- panies. He built the first telephone exchange in Lansing in 1880 and managed that en- terprise in connection with his express busi- ness until 1898. Since that year his services have been monopolized by the express com-
panies named, whose office is on the same corner now that it was forty years ago, when as a young telegraph operator, he joined his fortunes with the business then in its weak infancy.
Mr. Beamer's prominence as a business man was further emphasized by his conduct of a prosperous produce trade for a number of years. His substantial standing in this re- gard was not earned at the expense of neg- lecting the public affairs of the community, for he has always taken a deep and active interest in the welfare of Lansing, especially in that which concerns the education of the young. He has served on the Board of Edu- cation and, unofficially, has also been of great practical service to that cause. In politics, he is a sound Republican and his religious affiliations are with the Congregational church. His connection with secret societies is confined to his membership in the Modern Woodmen.
In 1862, Miss Louise J. Adjit of Ontario, Canada, became Mr. Beamer's first wife. Five children were born to them, of whom three are living. Mrs. James V. Barry of Lansing : Miss Mabel Beamer of San Diego, Cal., and H. Bruce Beamer of Los Angeles, California. Mrs. Beamer died in 1894, our subject being a second time united in mar- riage to Miss Eliza Bush Hinman, in 1895.
FRANK A. MERRIFIELD.
Frank A. Merrifield, of Wheatfield town- ship, was born May 8, 1860. He was the son of Martin Luther and Eliza (Thomas) Merrifield. The father was a native of Ohio and the mother of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Martin Merrifield were married in Roches- ter and then emigrated to Ohio, where they spent the remaining years of their married life. The father was engaged in the carpen- ter trade for a while and afterwards follow-
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ed the calling of farmer. After the death of the mother Mr. Martin Merrifield went to Kansas, where he has since resided. Ten children were born to this couple, our subject being the sixth in order of birth.
Frank Merrifield acquired his early educa- tion in the common schools of Ohio and when twenty-three years of age started out in the world for himself. He located in Wheatfield township, County of Ingham and State of Michigan, where he came to seek his fortune.
Our subject was married twenty-one years ago to Miss Nettie, daughter of Joseph and Emily Dennis, early settlers of Wheatfield township, and unto Mr. and Mrs. Merrifield has been born one child, Roy J., who is at home with his parents, attending the com- mon schools of his locality. Roy is sixteen years old.
The condition of the land upon which our subject and wife are now located was, when it came into their possession, in a wild state and has been greatly improved by them. Here they are engaged in farming along the general lines and make a specialty of fancy Plymouth chickens.
Frank Merrifield is a Republican and has held the office of Justice of the Peace and been a member of the Board of Review.
Socially he is a member of the Knights of Loyal Guard, in which he takes an active interest.
J. T. BARBER.
Among the early settlers in the Township of Waterloo, Jackson county, Mich., was Mr. John Barber and his wife, Caroline. He came direct from the Emerald Isle. Mrs. Barber was a native of New York state. Mr. Barber was born in 1801. They were the parents of twelve children, and the sub- ject, Jackson T. Barber, was one of the num-
ber. He was born September 7, 1848, at Waterloo, Jackson county, Mich. The elder Barber was but a young man upon his arrival to this country, but he brought with him pluck and stick-to-itiveness, essential ele- ments of success. He began clearing up his farm, and with but limited means and an in- creasing family, as the years went by, but they were hardy pioneers and equal to the emergency, adapting themselves to existing circumstances won out, and each year added to the comforts of living.
Jackson T. Barber started out for himself at the age of twenty-two years in Henrietta township, near the place of his birth. Bor- rowing $1,000.00 from his father, he pur- chased a piece of land, made some improve- ments, and seven years later sold out, and bought sixty acres on section thirty-six, Township of Vevay, which has since been the home of his family. To this he has add- ed, as he has prospered, until today his farm embraces one hundred forty acres, well im- proved and stocked; good farm buildings, and is financially on "Easy Street."
On November 10, 1872, Mr. Barber was married to Gustina, daughter of Patrick. Ryan, an old and respected resident of Jack- son county. When but a young man, Mrs. Barber's father, Patrick Ryan came from Ireland. His wife's maiden name was Cath- erine Quinn. They were the parents of eleven children, three of whom are still liv- ing.
When the family are all at home, and gathered about the frugal board nine pairs of feet including the parents' are under the table : Edith, Born October 18, 1874, wife of Thomas Barr; Maud, born September 10, 1875, at home with her parents ; Ruby, born June 16, 1878, a public school teacher, in Glasston, N. Dak .; Gustina, born September 30, 1880, also teaching ; William, born July 6, 1882, graduated from Mason high school
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INGHAM COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
and later spent a year at Olivet College; 30, 1897; L. B., born July 8, 1899; Muriel Catherine, born November 1I, 1886, grad- Evelyn, born December 5, 1903. uated from Mason high school in June, 1904, Caroline, born March 24, 1895.
Mr. Barber has patronized the Mason high school continuously for the past thir- teen years ; no less than six children having at various times been in attendance, and five have already graduated with honor. All seem to have desired to be well educated, and have been helped and encouraged by their parents. Mr. Barber, while farming for a business, has dealt in stock "on the side" and has annually added to his ex- chequer by so doing. His dealings in this line amount to several thousand dollars yearly. He is known as a good feeder of both cattle and sheep. As a buyer, he is a favorite among the farmers for miles around, and the farmer who has something good can usually deal with Mr. Barber. Bearing the sirname of "Old Hickory" and being "to the manor born" he could not well be otherwise than a pronounced Democrat. Mr. Barber has no liking for office, as he is a busy man with his own personal affairs. Genial, warm hearted, generous and frank, make him a most desirable friend and neigh- bor.
Mr. and Mrs. Barber are members of the M. E. society, and the family are regular attendants and supporters of the church. Mr. Barber is a Master Mason, and also a mem- ber of the fraternal order of the Maccabees.
If a man who causes two blades of grass to grow where but one grew before, is a benefactor to the race, then Mr. Barber may rightly line up in this class.
Mr. Barber cheerfully yields space in this brief biographical sketch to record the names and date of birth of his four grand- children-children of his eldest daughter, Mrs. Thomas Barr, as follows : J. T., born March 17, 1895; Emery D., born October
DAVID W. AND BEERI B. NOYES.
David W. Noyes was born December 21, 1802, at Landaff, Grafton county, N. H. In the winter of 1823-4 having just passed his majority, he taught school in Middlebury, Vt. In the spring of 1853 he made the trip entirely on foot to Leroy, Genesee county, N. Y., where he engaged in farming and captain of a packet on the Erie canal until the fall of 1831, when he moved to Michi- gan territory, and purchased a farm of eighty acres of land in the town of Wash- ington, Macomb county. In 1842 he pur- chased from the State of Michigan, eighty acres of land which had been reserved for salt springs, for which he paid four dollars per acre. This, with his original purchase he highly improved and erected thereon sub- stantial buildings, and it became known as the Noyes homestead, from which no white, black or copper colored wayfarer was ever turned away hungry or needy. During the trouble with Ohio over its southern bound- ary, the Territory of Michigan made prepa- ration to fight, and acting Governor Mason called out the militia, Mr. Noyes was com- missioned as first lieutenant and captain in the militia by Gov. Mason, but happily a contest was averted, and what is known as the Toledo war ended without bloodshed.
Mr. Noyes was three times married. In 1827 he married Olive Allen, who was born in Charleston, N. H. Her father, B. F. Al- len, served in the navy in War of 1812, un- der the daring and gallant Blake, whose ship went down with all on board. The issue of this union was two sons Albert G. and Kirke W. The wife and mother died in Novem- ber, 1831, two weeks after their removal to
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Michigan. In the spring of 1833 Mr. Noyes married Maria J. Bostwick at Batavia, N. Y. She was a native of Vermont. The is- sue of this union was Helen M., Octavia, Michael J., Beeri B., Carrie T, and Moore R. and a son and daughter who died in in- fancy. In 1858 this wife and mother ( who was a noted housekeeper) was taken from her family by death.
In 1858 or 9 Mr. Noyes was again united in marriage to Mrs. Jerusha McCormick of Ann Arbor, Mich.
In 1864 Mr. Noyes sold his farm ( which he had made a noted one) and moved to Ann Arbor, where he died January 13, 1888, aged a little over eighty-six years. His re- mains were taken by his sons K. W., M. J. and B. B. to Washington, Macomb county, and buried by old friends and neighbors be- side members of the family who had gone before, and where, before his death he had caused to be erected a monument. He was a noble, kind-hearted man, beloved by all who knew him.
The subject of this sketch, Beeri B. Noyes, cheerfully gives space in his history to his brother, Captain Kirke W. Noyes, a gallant soldier in the War of the Rebellion, who en- listed December 2, 1862, in Co. D of the Ist Regiment of Michigan Sharpshooters. He was mustered as first sergeant, promoted to first lieutenant, was acting adjutant, and later commissioner and mustered as captain. He was wounded in action at Spottsylvania, May 12, 1864, at Petersburg, July 30, 1864, and was again wounded at Peebles Farm, September 30, 1864, taken prisoner and con- fined to Libby, Salisbury and Dansville five months, was parolled February 22, 1865; was mustered out of service July 28, 1865, at close of the war.
Beeri B. Noyes the subject of this histor- ical sketch was born in the Township of Washington, Macomb county, Mich., No-
vember 26, 1841, and as before noted in this sketch was the second son of David W. and Maria J. Noyes. He was reared to manhood on the old farm where he was born and which he assisted his father to improve and make one of the best and most productive in that region. He was educated in the dis- trict schools of the Township, and later at- tended a graded school for a time, but owing to the scarcity of help on the farm during the years of the Civil war, he was obliged to lay aside his books and return to the farm and assist his father in its management, his two brothers K. W. and M. J. having en- listed. At the age of twenty-three in the year 1864, Mr. Noyes came to Ingham county, first purchasing one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, later he added eighty acres nearly all of which has been cleared of the native forest and put under a good state of cultivation. He has also erect- ed comfortable farm buildings and made other needed improvements devoting himself to general farming and stock raising and has made it remunerative. By economy and strict attention to business Mr. Noyes has succeeded in securing for himself and wife comfortable heritage. In 1864 he was uni- ted in marriage to Jerusha, daughter of George McCormick of Superior, Washtenaw county. Mrs. Noyes was one of a family of eight children, named respectively, as fol- lows: William, Jane, Jerusha, Emma, An- drew. Shelson, John, Anna; Weyburn of these three are living.
Politically, Mr. Noyes is in sympathy with the principles of the Prohibition party, and has always taken an active interest in both local and national politics. For three years he served the township as Drain Com- missioner and was for several years Com- missioner of Highways and for four years Justice of the Peace.
Mr. and Mrs. Noyes have both been ac-
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A. G. MILLER
MRS. A. G. MILLER
ESTHER GAYLORD MILLER
NELLIE ISABEL MILLER
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